Alice, White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, October 1962
We've seen the lady in today's photos a number of times before, and she did not tend to smile for the camera in most cases. But she seems pretty tickled to be meeting the White Rabbit and Alice in the Castle Forecourt. A nice smile changes everything! That and the ostrich-plumed hat, of course. The White Rabbit looks like he is getting ready to propose. "Oh my darling, your eyes are like limpid pools...". That line always gets 'em. Alice has changed her traditional hairstyle to something a bit more contemporary, and it looks great. She still likes the pinafores, though.
Say, who's that weirdo in the distance?
Well I'll be danged, it's the Mad Hatter! He's friendly, just as long as you don't make any sudden moves, or mention unbirthdays. For some reason I always enjoy being able to see the CM inside, and there he is, peering at us through the mesh "porthole". OK camera experts, what kind of camera does that lady have? A Kodak something.
Well, I'm still outta town; I might be back tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow depending on... stuff. Thanks homies!
37 comments:
You can see that person, inside the Mad Hatter’s costume, in BOTH pictures - CREEPY!
That trash can was probably the inspiration for the castle’s recent paint job. Looks good on the trash can, but trashy on the other.
Thanks, Major! (We miss you!)
Oh, Major-
By now you know that's a Kodak Brownie Starflash camera. That trash can topper is real beauty-! That lady holding her guidebook appears to be pulling a cigarette out of the pack she's clutching in her hand-? (Or, maybe sending a secret message via a miniature transmitter...)
I'm afraid Alice's hairstyle is a bit 'too' contemporary for me. I prefer a look a bit less 'styled' and more au natural.
Thanks, Major.
I just now realized the Mad Hatter’s floppy arms and hands are holding a tea cup. An empty tea cup.
Nanook, I agree with you. This Alice is sporting a hairstyle that makes her look much older - like Alice’s mom.
(Again, some of this may sound familiar. I need to hit 'Publish' quicker!)
In the first photo, as pretty as Alice is, I can't quite buy her as Alice. A little too old, a little too modern. Love the rainbow-topped Fantasyland trash cans. The expression on Camera Lady reminds me of Sylvester after he just popped Tweety into his mouth and got caught doing it.
In pic #2: Can't help with the camera I.D. but the lady on the left has a Disneyland Guidebook. OK, can't help with that, either. She's also picking her nose... or eating her finger. Yeah, that's it. She wasn't about to pay an exorbitant amount for a churro. (I know, no churros in '62.)
How does the CM get his hands way down there into the Hatter's white gloves? ;-) The way he's holding that cuppa, the contents spilled out ages ago. "Move down! Move down!"
I love the expression on the Crewcut Kid behind Camera Lady: "What the...?" Followed by: "Hey! Didn't I see him in a cartoon or somethin'?"
- Jingle Bells (You knew this was coming, right?)
Nanook, I agree. Alice's hair looks too modern. How long did they let Snow White, Cinderella and Alice have modern hairstyles? I wonder if it's even a wig? Maybe she showed up for work one day and they said, "Okay Carol, we're going to have you go out in the park with your real hair!"
It's no wonder the Mad Hatter doesn't have any tea in his cup, considering the way he's holding it. I remember during one trip to the park, the Mad Hatter had a penny in his tea cup. At some point, he dropped it and he asked my brother to pick it up and put it back in the cup. What I can't remember is if he actually spoke to my brother or not....I'll have to ask him (my brother, not the Mad Hatter). But we do have a family home movie of it, showing the Mad Hatter pointing with his foot to the penny on the ground and my brother picking it up for him. Now I'm wondering what the significance of the penny was? Was he "priming" the cup with money, in hopes that people would add to it? I can just see him taking a break backstage and saying, "Hey Carol! Some random guests paid for my lunch today!"
Okay Sue and Jingles, you both beat me to it about the angle of the tea cup. I guess I type too slow!
And JB, just remember....YOU started it! ;-)
- Tinsel Magic!
Hahahaha! I’m enjoying these comments.
- Lou and Sue and Rudolph too!
Jingle B., I forgot to mention that the CM's arms are not inside the arms or gloves of the costume. It was also that way with the old Seven Dwarfs costumes, and the Three Little Pigs costumes. Unfortunately, they are kind of helpless in there and can't retaliate by punching out any unruly guests. They can however, scratch themselves inside the costume, if they have an itch! They would also use their hands at times, to make the noses of their costumes wiggle!
- Tinsel Magic!
Tinsel Magic!, Maybe the Mad Hatter didn't have to actually say anything if he pointed to the penny with his foot?
And yeah, I started it. Rub THAT in my face, why don'tcha!
Tokyo, I knew those weren't the CM's hands. That's why I made the winky face. ;-) See? Winky face. haha. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum on the other hand, DO have use of their hands. At least in the mid '70s. My brothers and I were eating chinese food in one of the restaurants (I think this was WDW) when Tweedle Dee (or Dum) came up to the window, reached up, and started picking his nose. When he saw our disgusted reaction he then proceeded to EAT IT! Great fun.
- Jingle Bells
J. Bells, sorry! I missed the winky face! I see it now. I'm going to blame the tryptophan!
- Tinseltown Magic!
Haha, Tinsel! I’m starting to wonder if what we’ve been taught about tryptophan is even true. Look at us...we’re all still WIDE-AWAKE.
- Lou and Sue and Rudy, too!
Well, of course the Mad Hatter isn't holding his teacup in a sensible manner. You'd be mad to expect him to! Although how he's going to wash down his extensive regimen of anti-psychotic medications is anybody's guess.
A good ostrich feather can brighten the day of even the most committed grump.
Check out the cute wee lassie in the blue dress with the middy collar - hellooo, li'l sailorette!
I've always had a special fondness for the Fantasyland trash cans with the tournament-tent lids. The multicolored bench behind Blurry Boy is a gem, too.
Why, of all the crazy…is that a train station I see beyond the castle portcullis? This Disneyland place is as topsy-turvey as Wonderland!
That Alice is a bit taller than usual…and bears an uncanny resemblance to David Niven.
In the second image, the castle fountain appears to be in working order. And I love the colorful way that bench is painted. But let’s not get crazy and start doing the same thing to the castle.
Look - it’s Walt’s favorite trash can, Wastels!
Nice to see our former-frowning lady friend smiling.
I agree about Alice just not being right. Makes me wonder if she was a last minute replacement when the regular Alice CM called in sick.
Last night I watched the ABC special "Disneyland '59" that was sponsored by Kodak. It included several promos with celebrities of the day extolling the virtues of Kodak cameras.
It was the perfect lead-in to today's first pic. I count four cameras in just the one photo. All Kodaks?
Granting Your Holiday Wishes...
It’s good to see this lady unbending a little. Everyone should smile in Disneyland.
Alice is mighty pretty, but she should fix her hair. The Mad Hatter’s lesser-known brother, the Mad Hairdresser could take care of that.
I always felt sorry for those rubber character CM’s, limited visibility, mobility, no hands, no tips, and probably squat pay on top of it all. While it is creepy to see the person through the viewport, it would be creepier still to think that misshapen rubber head was a real face.
I love that trash can, the old plain green can with a fancy hat. Like a Philip Johnson skyscraper.
JG
So nice to see the (formerly) unsmiling lady get into the swing of things as she gets photographed with the Alice characters. I can’t remember seeing an Alice with a hairdo like that. Wonder what the story is? Trying to make her more “contemporary”? At least she’s blond.
Looks like that’s a themed drinking fountain on the wall in pic 2. Nicely done.
You can’t not smile with an ostrich feather hat! I guess it’s a little better for the Mad Hatter to be awkwardly holding a teacup than having his arms flop around at his sides. Alice must have spent too much time on her hair and refused to restyle it or put on a wig — at least they should have given her a hair ribbon! That far bench is pretty snazzy, I’d take a seat on it. Interesting how the brick path leads right to the trashcan. Thanks Major, and happy day-after-Thanksgiving to all.
Poor Alice getting shamed for her hairdo on GDB. Perhaps if they gave her rubber pre-molded hair like the Mad Hatter she'd get a more positive reaction? ;-)
Notice how in shape most everyone is? The "Super-Size It" generation hadn't come of age yet.
Thanks, Major!
Ok, I agree, that aint Alice. Maybe it's her older sister, Mable? The Mad Hatter wasn't really mad, just sort of miffed.You would be too if you had no control over your arms. Perhaps some bench pressing would help...
Looks like Carol was doing her receptionist work at the Ad bldg and they threw her in to be Alice. Just might be true. I don’t mind the hair do, but with Alice that is a hair don’t. It’s weird that you can see the hatter behind the hatter. It looks like light is coming in from somewhere else. Perhaps that hat was translucent? I agree that it’s creepy. Lady with feather hat we have seen before, however it’s nice that she is giving us a smile this time. She looks remarkably like a local real estate agent here who goes on TV from time to time. Her name is “Muffin”. She does funny things like scuba dives in ponds and rows boats wearing a full length sable coat and pearls. She sells castles and the like and could be feather ladies sister. The penny thing sounds like a typical character stunt. So strangely weird. I have stories about characters that would turn your hair white. They can be naughty!
Tokyo, OK, now I'm confused. Is it Tinsel Magic! or Tinseltown Magic! I gotta know! We had chicken with stuffing. Does chicken have tryptophan?
Sue (and Lou and Rudy), I suspect that the tryptophan thing is mostly a myth.
Melissa, The Hatter's meds don't seem to be doing the trick. I noticed that colorful iron bench against the wall as well. I wonder if it's a one-of-a-kind?
Chuck, I know! The train station seems way too close; I had to double check. And you're right, something about Alice's smile is very David Niven-ish. Or perhaps Jeremy, the Nowhere Man from Yellow Submarine.
Wastels?? (I get the 'waste' part, but...)
JG, the Mad Hairdresser. Ha! I can see him pouring treacle in her hair and smearing in a large dollop of butter.
Kathy!, yes, a hair ribbon would've helped greatly.
K. Martinez, A sad observation about waistlines these days. (I plead guilty. But I'm over-the-hill.)
Jingle B., it's Tinseltown Magic! But you can call me Tinsel, for short. Or Tinny. But I prefer Tin Tin.
There were quite a few of those multicolored iron benches in the Castle courtyard, for years. They were even located along the wall in the tunnels on either side of the Castle, leading to Frontierland and Tomorrowland.
JB, I was trying to reference “Jingles,” supposedly Walt’s favorite horse that we discussed a few days ago, but if I spelled it Wasteles, I was afraid people would pronouce it “waste lez” and it would make even less sense. A swing and a miss. Well, there’s always tomorrow…
TTM (Tin Tin Magic!), OK then, Tin Tin it is. For the remainder of the evening, that is.
Chuck, Ah. Okay. Given a few more hours, or days, or weeks, I'm sure I would have figured it out eventually. By this time next year, for sure!
"There’s always tomorrow", is that a Rankin/Bass "Rudolf" reference?
JB, funny you should say that. It wasn't intentional when I wrote it, but that song has been running on repeat in my head since the moment I read what I had written.
Look - it’s Walt’s favorite trash can, Wastels!
...I was trying to reference “Jingles,” supposedly Walt’s favorite horse that we discussed a few days ago...
Chuck, it's a good thing you explained what you meant, as I was figuring you were doing a play on the words 'waste' and 'castle.'
Keep in mind the IQ of your audience. We need all the help we can get. <:oP***
Chuck, it IS a nice song. At least, the first few bars. Then it sorta drifts off into forgettable mediocrity. But the first part is a real earworm, for sure. Much like "Winter Was Warm" from Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol; the song has an excellent beginning, then...meh.
Sue, your emoticon: Is that someone (us) with a dunce cap, drooling out the corner of their mouth? Haha, if so.
- Jingle Bells
Bingle Jells, it does look like a drooling dunce - but I actually meant it to be a clown with 3 pom-pom buttons. Let’s see if you can guess these:
@:-) \
[ :-|:
Sue, I'm completely stumped. But I'll try anyway.
First one: A person with curly hair (or maybe a rose) who is loudly laughing. (The backslash is the bottom of their mouth.)
Second one: A nerd with a flattop haircut and a bowtie under his chin?
Haha, told ya I was stumped. (Bingle Jells? Someone's having fun with my name!)
Nope, Bingle, but I’ll give you one clue: Hollywood
Is the second one Frankenstein's Monster?
Still stumped on the first... Carmen Miranda?
Yes; no.
Is the first one Lucy?
Nope
:o)
Is the ")" a mustache?
A smile
GAH! Tellmetellmetellme! (Haha. The Major's gonna see the post count and wonder "What the...?"
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